Montero Misses the Penalty
Shalrie Joseph’s sixth goal of the season after 21 minutes was enough to give the Boston side, being coached (at least for the first half) by Ipswich Town legend Paul Mariner, all three points. Sounders can have no complaints as the Revs become only the second side to win at Qwest Field and the first to do it without a man advantage.
Darrius Barnes, Jay Heaps, Edgaras Jankauskas and Kenny Mansally, listed as probables all made the starting line up. For Sounders, Pat Ianni replaced the suspended Tyrone Marshall, but Freddie Ljungberg was still missing with a mystery illness.
Sainey Nyassi came in for Kheli Dube and of course that rendered possible the chance of playing against his twin Sanna, who started on the bench for Seattle. Like many things for Seattle, it never happened on what was simply an off day.
The first ten minutes passed uneventfully but 30 seconds into the eleventh, Sounders created their first real chance as a Brad Evans right wing cross was met by Nate Jaqua who headed over. In the next two minutes, both Osvaldo Alonso and Evans again found territory on Seattle’s right to fire in crosses, both times over the heads of all waiting inside the box. Evans was having a fruitful time in right midfield, and Sainey Nyassi was having a great battle with Leo Gonzalez on New England’s right as the game began to open up after a cramped start.
However 21 minutes in and New England scored the only goal of the game. Edgar Janksuskas played a fine one/two with Steve Ralston and the Revs captain threaded a fine through ball into the area towards Shalrie Joseph. The Grenadan shook off Pete Vagenas but then missed his kick and fell over. However while grounded, he flicked out his right boot instinctively and intelligently. His contact rolled into the empty net beyond Kasey Keller.
Emmanuel Osei was Part of a Rock Solid Revs Defence
In response, Montero completely missed everything when the ball dropped to him and hit a fresh air shot in one of several moments the young Colombian will shudder when he looks back on. In the next minute, Pat Ianna’s cross was met by Nate Jaqua whose effort was cleared off the line by the vigilant Kevin Alston. It wasn’t one way traffic and an unseemly scramble in the Sounders six yard box had to be hacked away in desperation as Keller floundered trying to locate the ball amongst defenders.
Nate Jaqua however missed a sitter in the 27th. A lung bursting run from Gonzalez down the left had beaten out all comers and his square pass, although a little behind Jaqua, really merited an on target effort. Sounders would regret that as the penalty apart, it was their best chance of the match.
New England nearly doubled their lead on the half hour. A Kenny Mansally left wing corner was met unchallenged by Joseph but like Jaqua before him, he headed over. Jay Heaps intercepted a speculative Gonzalez ball in from the Vagenas corner and Pat Ianni’s header seemed top be knocked round the post by Alston but a goal kick was awarded.
For once Sounders fans wanted Fredy Montero to hit the deck, and he stayed on his feet
James Riley continued to be competent in his defensive duties at right back and a threat going forward. From another Vagenas corner, one of six on the night, Steve Zakuani battled well and his goal-bound shot was blocked by an offside Fredy Montero. It looked very likely to have been the equaliser had he avoided it. For once Sounders fans wanted Fredy Montero to hit the deck, and he stayed on his feet. Gonzalez’s battle with Nyassi finally led to a yellow card in the 40th minute after he left his trailing leg in a tackle and tripped the Gambian.
Vagenas battled hard to win a free kick off Nyassi when he was surrounded by defenders and all seemed lost in the 42nd minute. From the melee, Fredy Montero won a penalty when Steve Ralston aimed for a dropping ball, and kicked the Colombian instead. Ralston picked up a yellow for the dissent rather than the tackle. After Jay Heaps unwisely threw an object into the crowd, Montero stepped up and hit the bar with the penalty, Seattle’s second this season and the second they have missed. Pat Ianni headed the rebound wide. Sigi Schmid later admitted Montero wasn’t supposed to have taken it.
“He wasn’t supposed to hit the PK. There as a player designated and he needs to stand up and take responsibility. There’s a person designated and sometimes two people in case someone is hurt. The designated person deferred and let him hit it.”
One suspects we haven’t heard the last of this.
Edgar Jankauskas picked up a pointless booking for handling inside Seattle’s box when he couldn’t reach a cross before colleague Jay Heaps picked up another one after the half time whistle for needlessly arguing with the referee. With Steve Nicol already in the stand serving a touchline ban, Paul Mariner was coaching the side. The Englishman must have been missing the Scotsman because he was sent to the stand just before half time for dissent as New england temporarily lost their discipline.
Montero became the first to garner a pointless second half booking for knocking the ball out of Reis’ hands as he was preparing to clear. He will now miss the trip to Houston.
After a noisy opening to the second period, New England had defended their lead well. A splendid Hurtado tackle on Ralston enabled him to find Zakuani. By means of a pass to Leo Gonzalez, Evans shot was deflected wide. From the corner, Zakuani tested Reis who was up to the task at the second attempt.
Seattle huffed and puffed but to little avail. Montero operating on the left found Gonzalez whose cross was intercepted by a defender just in time. Sebastien Le Toux came on after 63 minutes, although he was forced to wait to come on, until two further corners had elapsed. With Jaqua going off, it was Le Toux’s chance to play as an out and out forward.
Brothers in Arms. Sanna Loses Another Bet.
Matt Reis was then booked for time wasting. The game had endured a messy period with very little being created as New England defended their lead competently although Kheli Dube hit the side netting within three minutes of entering the field, their best chance of the half so far. Within seconds of one Nyassi leaving the other came on. Sanna’s first act was to be easily tackled by Shalrie Joseph after running through some midfield traffic. More patchy play relatively without incident was punctuated with the occasional scramble in the Revs box which they handled competently and never looked threatened. Sounders took corners but few posed any problems. With Nyassi’s arrival, Evans switched to a more central role, but it was just one of those days that nothing Schmid did had the desired effect.
One penalty shout had perhaps some validity when Emmanuel Osei handled a clearance from his own player but Baldomero Toledo ruled it ball to hand. Sanna Nyassi started to be more adventurous with his runs as tiredness opened up the game a little. After being shoved off the ball by Alston and neglecting to go down, he was inexplicably cautioned when he went down to a lesser tackle seconds later. Sounders were admittedly reduced to looking for free kicks a little too easily by then, and Toledo gave Gonzalez a much softer one seconds later.
Zach Scott was thrown in at the death by Schmid but in all honesty, although they didn’t do much wrong bar miss a penalty, it just wasn’t to be Seattle’s day. Nyassi seared the side netting from a tight angle after Riley, perhaps in a better position to shoot, had released him.
The defeat impacts Sounders play off chances badly but for New England, taking three points from one of their spare games, a road one at that, will delight Steve Nicol, whose side entertain RSL on Sunday.
Vote for the Man of the Match Here
Sounders FC: Kasey Keller; James Riley, Patrick Ianni, Jhon Hurtado, Leo Gonzalez (Zach Scott 90′); Pete Vagenas (Sanna Nyassi 69′), Osvaldo Alonso, Steve Zakuani, Brad Evans; Nate Jaqua (Seb Le Toux, 63′) Fredy Montero
Substitutes Not Used: Ben Dragavon, Taylor Graham, Tyson Wahl, Nathan Sturgis
New England Revs: Matt Reiss; Darrius Barnes, Emmanuel Osei, Jay Heaps, Kevin Alston; Kenny Mansally (Mauricio Castro 80′), Shalrie Joseph, Jeff Larentowicz, Steve Ralston; Sainey Nyassi (Wells Thompson 67′), Edgaras Jankauskas (Kheli Dube)
Brad Knighton, Gabriel Badilla, Pat Phelan, Chris Tierney,
Attendance: 32,705
Further Reporting:
Why Tonight’s Game is So Important to Both Sides Seasons
Sainey Ready to Give Brother a Nyass-Kicking!
Sounders v New England (Match Preview)
Sleepless in Bwiam as Gambian Village Looks Forward to Game
Steve Ralston – Modern American Pioneer
August 21, 2009 at 10:12 am
this was one of the more frustrating losses for me. in fact i thought this was worse than the SJ loss. We should have things in order now, and after the LA game it appeared as we were starting to find something that worked, things were clicking.
the revolution game was a huge step back IMO, and with stupid mistakes like Montero’s yellow, we’re just shooting ourselves in the foot.
now all remaining games become must wins. not good with houston as our next foe, missing two of our best players.